iTunes could not connect to the iTunes Store. An unknown error occurred (-4

Me too,

Itune store will not connect with the same error

doesnt connect on my iphone, xp and mac

I have the same problems. I have read through this forum and tried all the fixes suggested, but nothing works. I even re-applied the 10.5.4 Combo Update to no avail. Does anyone have any idea about this. This started two days ago, just like the original poster.

Using the same wireless network, I cannot access the store from my MacBook Pro, G5 desktop and my iPhone without me having done any changing of settings to my network.

Exactly the same problem on my MBP - haven't changed a thing, but cannot now access iTunes store.

Can't access App Store on my iPhone either...

What's up?

i too was having similar problems.... but my itunes would just crash instead of giving me an error.
i had this problem for months.... i tried everything too...

One thing i found curious was that i am the only user on this mac and so im the administrator... however if i created a TEST user account i tunes connected to the store no problem... so i knew it was not my computer... some file is corrupt... which one who knows? so try it to see if this is the same for you if so then try this... but dont erase the test user acount.

this is what i did and now it works... i dont know how but try and see if it works for you.

1.I BACKED up all my music and movies on dvds. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT DO THIS FIRST.
2. Un install itunes.... i mean remove everything that is related to it... go to: (read carefully to make sure you got everything)
Removing iTunes for Mac OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1224

3. Trash your music etc everything related to itunes- album art ,music movies... just get it all out.
4. Reinstall itunes http://www.itunes.com/download
5. make sure the latest quick time is installed. http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download
6. restart
7. test the store to see if it works before adding any music....

NOTE: i had to do the uninstall and reinstall twice.... before it worked i dont know why but its been working for a week now... i can make purchases... put all my music back on... restarted my computer several times and its working..... maybe it was a fluke but it wont hurt to try.. good luck

Dear Apple Team,

since a few days ago, I am not able anymore to connect the iTunes Store Germany. I have to say that I living in China. I get always the Message: Connection Error (-4) even with my MacBook Pro, MacMini, MacBook Air or with my IPhone.

If I am outside of China my iTunes Store is working. I tried also to use a Proxy server when I am in China and it works too.

- Any Hardware or Software problems are out of game I tried with all my Apple Systems an it is always the same.
- All my friends in China and user from the iTunes Store have the same problem.
- I checked all Support help without success.

Please do not give me any good advice to check the Software, Support Homepage, ect. pp.

It is very clear that the iTunes Store in China is now blocked what is Apple doing against this situation???

We had in the past the same Problems with .Mac (No access to the .Mac Homepage, Service ect.) After the change to a new System (www.me.com) the situation is better because the server has changed from http://web.mac.com/ to http://web.me.com/but it is only a question of time until it is again blocked. The full service is anyway still not available e.g. I kann still not accesses to all folders on my iDisk ect.

You are losing a lot of Customers if this situation will not be changed in the future!!!

Please do not gave me any tips I want to now when this situation will be changed???

I just want to get my name on this list. I have the same problem and (-4) error code. Doesn't seem like anyone out there has a solution yet. I've done all the same things you guys have plus I ran first aid on my keychain and still get the same error. I even had a "specialist" on my phone for about 15 minutes and all he could do was suggest I come to the apple discussions and see if anyone out there had a solution. Obviously people don't. I would appreciate knowing if someone comes up with something. srlasky

According to the discussion thread at
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7887814&#7887814

Error -4 is a server error, and sometimes results from too many things to download. I have a long list of songs that I purchased, and I can not download (or check for downloads). I get error -4 each time. I often get error -4 even when just loading my purchase history. I am able to access my purchase history if I am persistent and I keep trying. I have reported a problem. Hopefully this will help.

I am another person with the same problem. I really don't want to go through having to migrate almost 30 gig of music and video possibly twice to see if I can get the store to work again. Man I want my podcasts back!

It tells me the connection timed out, but it does so immediately.

I ran into the exact same problem. I'm thinking it's either a bug that's introduced with iTunes update or a server problem. I'm not downloading anything when I try to connect to the iTunes Store.

Come on Apple! At least give us an explanation to the problem.

same here. just after the 10.54 update(or maybe the itunes update?). apple rsvp.

O.K. at least I am not the only one in China with this problem!!

It appears to be the consequence of a lack of support by Apple for high demand for its products and services (iTunes, iTunes Store and 3rd-generation applications related to iPod use), in which the Store either crashes iTunes with or without an error message (Mac OS 10.5.x) or causes Store connection attempts to hang (10.4.11). It is intermittent and sporadic and no doubt will be fixed or better errort-trapped in later versions of iTunes. It is similar to but probably not the same as problems experienced by iTunes users in China.

Workaround for Tiger (10.4.11) users: click on the 'eye' button bottom right of iTunes window and navigate through the menus to the artist (etc.) you are looking for (appears not to work for Leopard 10.5.x)

Here is the solution,

as I said before, you have to use a Proxy server.

Therefore please have a look on: http://www.torproject.org/

Please note that this Homepage is also in China blocked, you have to ask some Friends outside China and download the Software for you and sending by eMail or download from a file server ect.

The Software is 15MB big!

After you have Install the Software on your Mac please go into System Preferences -> Network -> Your active Internet Connection (If you are using e.g. AirPort klick on the active connection) -> More Options -> Proxies

You have to activate:

FTP-Proxy Server IP: 127.0.0.1:8118
Web-Proxy(HTTP) Server IP: 127.0.0.1:8118
Save Web-Proxy(HTTPS) Server IP: 127.0.0.1:8118
Gopher-Proxy Server IP: 127.0.0.1:8118

After you start the Tor Software (Vidalia.app) you can connect to the Internet and also to the iTunes Store but because you are using a Proxy the conection may is slower than before!!!

What is a Proxy have a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server

Have fun!

Yea I am in freaking china too.. *** is wrong with this government block every sites i go.

Tor one of the solution and its also one of the slowest

I pay for this VPN http://www.witopia.net/ and its fast and easy to set up.

Same deal here. I don't think it is a software problem as three machines in my house are having the same issue...Error (-4) when trying to connect to the iTunes store - when I try from VPN or firewall connections at work is seems to be fine.

As Apple gains more popularity in China (having just opened stores) I'm sure there will be more and more people wanting to connect to the iTunes store in the US (or others) since there is no iTunes store in China...so I HOPE THEY FIX THIS SOON PLEASE!!!!!!